An Israeli court fined two New Zealand women over $12,000 in damages for helping to persuade pop singer Lorde to cancel her concert schedued for Israel. The suit was filed under a law that permits civil suits to be brought against anyone who calls for a boycott against Israel.

New Zealanders Justine Sachs and Nadia Abu-Shanab had appealed to Lorde in an open letter to “join the artistic boycott of Israel” and cancel her performance. The singer acknowledged the letter and canceled her show days.

Three Israeli ticket holders filed the suit on the basis that the cancellation had caused them emotional distress. Nitsana Darshan-Leitner of the Shurat HaDin advocacy group said the court’s decision sends a message that “no one can boycott Israel without paying for it.”